Sheet handling apparatus



Filed Dec'. 25,

1929 2 Sheets-Sheet @wv um J um m Q m\ Q July 26, 1932. L.. 1 BEACH ET AL SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed DEG. 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ETC/45e L 556704 and CAI/e1 605741/5 WQ/cv-HT.

Patented `luly 26, 1932 UNITED sTATEsv PATENT OFFICE LETCHR L. BEACH AND CARL GUSTAVE WRIGHT, OF CAMBRIDGE, OHIO, ASSIG-NCR TC AMERICAN SHEET AND TIN PLATE COMPANY, A CORPORATION F NEW JERSEY SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Aplilieation ined December 23, 1929. lserial No. 416,116.

This invention relates to sheet handling .apparatus and more particularly to a conveying and lifting yapparatus for' sheets and Y packsl of sheets and has for its object the this lifting has been done manually.

Y The presentV invention provides a Vroller table over which thefsheets or packs of sheets may be readily moved and provides means operable by the sheets Vor packs of sheets as they move over said table for elevating 'the Veo table to raise thesheets tothe desired level thereby eliminating the manual-lifting and speedingvup the operation ofthe mill.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a planofa machine constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a side'elevation thereof.

Figure Bis a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line III-.III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail taken through the center of the valve operating lever. Y Figure 5 is a sectional elevationtaken on thelineV-,V of Figure 3. p

Referring moreparticularly to the draw'-l ings, the letter A designates the frame as a whole which is composed of a pair of parallel L-shaped side members 2 whichare held in'iixed spaced relation by transverse members 3 and 4. The upstanding legs 5 of the members 2.are provided with adjustable er:- tensions 6 which are provided ywith a series 1 ofholes 7 adapted to register with a series of holes 8 in the legs 5, so as to provide for vertical adjustment of the extensions 6 bv passing bolts 9 through selected Ones of the registered holes 7 and 8.

A .transverse rod 10 extends betweenand is ysecured in the upper ends of the leg extensions'6 and serves as a support for a'hinged orpivoted table B. The table B comprises side members `12 which are pivotally mounted at their rear ends on the rod 10 and held in spaced relation on said rod by a sleeve 13. A plurality of tie rods 14 are arranged at spaced intervals along the length of the side members 12 and carry spacer sleeves 15 for holding the side members in assembled spaced relation.

Short skid arms 16 are pivot-ally mounted on a shaft 14a at the forward end of the tablel side members 12 and form extensions of the side members 12. The rear ends of the arms 16 extend beyond the shaft 14a to which they are pivoted and are provided with outwardF ly 'projected stop members 17 adapted to engage the lower faces of the side members12 when the table is elevated to hold said skid arms in line with said side members.`

A plurality of conveyer roller-disks 18 4and 19 are mounted on the table B. v The disks 18 A fluid pressure cylinder 22 is hingedly mounted at 23 to thetransverse frame member 3 and has its piston rod 24 extending rearwardly and pivotally connected to the lower end of a pair of arms 25 which are pivotally mounted on the rod 10 and have their lower ends joined together by a spacer-block 26 and bolt 27. f

Connecting arms 28 have their forward ends connected to the opposite side members 12 of the table B and have their rear ends mounted on the bolt 27 a.

In operation, when the cylinder 22 is operated to retract the piston rod 24 the arms 25 will be rocked forwardly so as to cause the connecting arms 28 to move forwardly7 and- 7 A lever 33 is pivotally mounted on the spacer-sleeve n of the shaft 14h immediately above the'valve 30 and has its lower end slotted at 34 and litted over `a spool 35 rotatably mounted on the valve operating lever 32. A

second lever 36 is pivotally mounted on the sleeve 15a adjacent the lever 33 and ha'sva-lug n 37 which overlies the rear' edge of the lever the lug 3V7Ye'ngages the lever33 and Vrocks it forwardly so as to, operate the valve and ladmit lluid the cylinder 22' andy thereby operate said cylinder to raise the` table'B.

,v A coiled spring 38 is mounted over the sleeve 15a, on which thelevers'33'and 36 are mounted on one of therods lil andhaving its upper end pivotally connected tothe triggerbar 40. The forward end of the trigger-barv lOi's curved downward below the top of the roller-disks 18 and 19 as at 4:2, so'as' to provide Ya skid surface over which the sheets and packs of sheets being moved over theit'able will pass.' f A second coiled spring '43 is mounted around, the sleeve 15a on which the levers 33 p and `36 ,are pivotedand is connected Lto thev f y vlever 36 so as to be tensioned whensaid lever is rocked `orwardlyby sheets being 'moved `forwardly on the table and being adapted to automatically return the lever 36 and trig! ger-bar L10 tov normal position when the 'sheets have passed forwardly over'the trigger-bar.

In operation, the apparatus of -thisinvenventionv will be Vplaced'in position adjacent kthe furnace, mill or other device into whichv itisV desired to iieed'th'eV sheets or'packs of sheets.` The operator vwill then slide the f sheets onto and along the table B so that they engagethe trigger-bar 40, and thus voperate the valve 30 toadmit fluid to the "cylinder 22 which will then operate toV raise the table B onA a level with the entrance of the furnace or: other device receiving the sheets. Theoperator will continue to move the sheets along the tableV B as the table is vbeing raisedand 1 thus feed the sheets into or-vonto thefdevice receiving the sheets'wit'hout lifting. j As the sheets move from over the trigger-bar 401 the trigger-bar 40 and assembled mechanism'will c@ be returned'to normal positionby means of the coiled spring 38.

' y `lhile the table B is shown with idler conj veyer rollers 18 and 19, it will be understood that these rollers Ymay be drivenrollers if desired.` .Y j f When the lever 36 is rocked rearwardlyk It will also' be understood that while we have shown the apparatus ofl this invention as a portable apparatus capable of being bodilymoved from place to place in va mill by the aid of a crane, we do not wish to be limited to such construction since vvarious modilications mayfbe made without :departing from the scope of our invention, as delined inthe appended claims. 'j

VVeclaim: Y Y-A Y, v v 1 portable sheet lifter. andconveying mechanism for sheets and packs comprising ',anL-shaped Yframe, said frame having its vertical leg adjustable-vertically, a normally inclinedroller table Shaving one end pivotal ly mounted on the upper end of said vertical leg and its other. end free' and adapted to rest on the mill loor, atluidpressure cylinder ypivotally mounted on said frame, means operatively' connecting the piston of said cylinder and'said table whereby operation of said cylinder will rock said tableabout its pivotal mounting o-n'said frame so as to raise said table to a position horizontal vwith said mounting, a valve mounted on said table for controlling the flow of fluid tosaid cylinder, means operable by the sheets passing along said `tablefor operating said valve to admit fluid to said cylinder and Ispring means for returningsaid operating mechanism to normal position to close 'sa-id valve.

f2. A portable sheetlifter and conveying mechanism `for sheets and packs comprising an L-shapedframe, said rame having its vertical'leg adjustable vertically, means for locking said legl in selected adjusted positions, a roller Vtable pivotally mounted at one end to said 'vertical legof said frame and adapted to be raised to -a position substantially horizontal with said VVpivotal mounting `and .to be lowered to an inclined position so that its free end rests onvthe floor, and'power means for raising and lowering said roller table. A i j Y 3. A portablev sheet lifter land conveying mechanism for sheets and packs comprising an L-shaped frame, said framehaving its vertical legV adjustable vertically, means for locking said leg in selected adjusted` positions,a roller table pivotally mountedat one endv to said v'vertical leg ot said frame and adapted to be raised to' a position substantially horizontal withsaid pivotal mounting yandto be lowered tov an inclined position so thatits freefjend rests on' the floor, a fluid vpressure cylinder connected to and adapted to `raise and lowerfsaid table, Va valve for consaid cylinder, andy means operable Vbythe Ysheets passing over said tablefor operating 'Y trolling the 'flowpo-f fluidiunder pressure to inclined roller table having one end pivotally mounted on the upper end of said vertical leg and its other end free and adapted to rest on the rnill floor, a fluid pressure Cylinder pivotally mounted on said frame, means operatively connecting the piston of said cylinder and said table whereby operation of said cylinder Will rock said table about its pivotal mounting on said frame so as to raise said table to a position horizontal with said mounting, and a valve for controlling the How of fluid to said cylinder.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto set our hands.

` LETCHER L. BEACH.

CARL GUSTAVE WRIGHT. 

